Apparatus for making nets



March 22, 1922 G. w. HANSON l 2,111,775

APPARATUS FOR MAKING NETS Filed Nov. 24, 1936 Patented Mar. 22, 1938 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

.5 suitable lines, such as cords, can be quickly movedinto desirable spaced positions so as to be supported at their selected points of intersection, to facilitate the fastening together of the cords at their points of intersection.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus wherein a set of cor-ds or the like, running in one direction, are supported in spaced elements, and another set of cords are drawn in intersecting relation to the first set of cords and l5 placed on said spaced elements for quick fastening of a large numberof intersecting points of the cords of a net, means being provided for denitely spacing the fastened Vcords removed from said supports so that the subsequent fastenings arein a predetermined relation to the previously finished fastenings, thereby permitting quickl andeasy handling and fastening of the intersecting cords of ak net in larger groups.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an apparatus for making nets of the type above referred 'to which is' simple in construction, eicient in operation,` durable in use and capable vof manufacture on a commercial scale.

In this specification and the annexed drawing, the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood V,that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also Ato be understood that in and by the claims following the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

vIn the accompanying drawing:

Fig, 1 is a plan View of the apparatus. v Fig. 2v is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of an end of the apparatus, the arrows indicating the direction of progress of the cords.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the apparatus, the section being taken on thevline 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic side View of the apparatus.

Fig.` 5 is one of the dies shown in plan view. Fig.v 5a is` a side elevation of Fig. 5. Fig. 5b is an end elevation of Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a side view fastened joint of the net.

Fig. 6a is a plan view of Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is a sectional View showing the relative position of the cords at a point of intersection.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one of the joiner cups. 5'5 Fig. 8a is a side elevation of the uppercup.

I Fig. 8b is a side elevation of the lower cup.

In general my apparatus includes the steps of supporting the cords of the net running substantially in 'the same direction, at suitably spaced points of each cord. The said points of 5 support are so located as to correspond to the points of intersection where the crossing cords of a net are fastened together. Then other cords are pulled below the plane of the first cords so that the second set of cords are disposed at a l0 desired angle to the first set of cords. It is preferable that one end of each of the second set of cords be fastened so as to be held stationary and Vthen each cord beso pulled oif from'a usual reel or the like that each cord is pulled in a double r15 strand. The points of support of the rst set of cords are located in rows, and the second set of cords is pulled parallel with said rows of supporting points yso that a double strand is positioned between each pair of adjacent rows of supporting points. Then the pulled or doubled ends of said strands are cut and each strand of ,each cord is lifted onto the nearest row of said points of support. Then the intersecting cords are fastened together at each point of support. 25 After a comparatively large section of the net is thus formed, the same is moved into an out of way position by advancing the rst set of cords from said points of support so that the last roW of fastened intersections of the completed por- 30 tion of the net is at a definitely determined distance from the flrst adjacent row of support points, which distance is equal to the spacings between the rows of supporting'points when the joints of the net are equidistant from each other. 35 Thereafter the second set of cords is again pulled from its rolls or reels between said rows of support points and the operation is repeated until a net of a desired size is completed.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to use 4.0 separable fasteners such as complemental metal cups of the type shown in Fig. 8. Each fastener is made of two complemental cups II. Each cup II is so formed that it has intersecting channels I2 and I3 of semi-circular cross section, at right 45 angles to each other. The middle portion of each cup II is bulged outwardly so as to provide a dip I4 in said channels I2 and I3, so that 'the intersecting portions of cords I5 and I6 can be held in the cup in superimposed relation as '50 shown in Fig. 7. One cup- II faces upward and after the cords I5 and I6 are in place thereon, another cup II is pressed over it in invertedl position. The edges of the complemental cups 'II are adapted to interlock when pressed to- 55 gether so as to form a firm fastening of the intersections. The portions of the cords thus pressed into the bulges I4 are prevented from sliding or moving relatively to each other.

My apparatus for applying fasteners to the cords includes a frame I1 of any desirable length and width. The frame I1 has a plurality of spaced supports I8 arranged tov correspond to the spacing of the joints of the net to be made. In this illustration, the joints of the net are equidistant from each other. The supports I8 are aligned in longitudinal rows on the frame. On the top of each support I8 is suitably fixed a die I9. Each die I9 has a hollow receptacle 2| formed in its top to firmly fit the convex side of a cup I I in such manner that the channels I2 and I3 are in registry with the respective channels I2 and I3 of the cups `Il in the other receptacles 2l.

In the herein description the set of cords I which extends across the narrower portion of the frame I1 will be referred to as transverse cords I5, and the set of cords I6 which extends the length of the frame I1 will be referred to as longitudinal cords I6. Both cords may be made of any suitable material, such as rope or wire or the like.

The transverse cords I5 are fed across the frame I1 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. It is preferable that each cord I5 be unrolled from a suitable roll of cord. The longitudinal cords I6 are also unrolled from rolls or reels 22 shown in Fig. 4, but before unrolling, an end of each cord I6 is tied fast to a stationaryelement relatively to an end 23 of the frame I1. Each half loop 24 thus formed is placed loosely in the groove of a pulley 26. Each pulley 26 in turn travels in a longitudinal guide recess 21 in the frame I1, below the level of the dies I9. The shaft 28 of each pulley 26 moves in a longitudinal slot 29 in the bottom of the recess 21 and is connected to an endless conveyor line 3I, which latter is moved around suitable rollers 32. By pulling the conveyor line 3I the pulley 26 connected thereto, can be drawn from the end 23 to the other end 33 of the frame I1. Thus the doubled portion of each longitudinal cord I6 is pulled across and below the transverse cords I5 from one end to the other end of the set of cords I5.

In operation rst a lower cup I I of the fasteners is placed into each receiver 2I of each die I9. Then the transverse cords I5 are placed into the aligned channels I2 of the cups Il. Then the longitudinal cords I6 are pulled in place as heretofore described and each cord I6 is cut at the pulley 26 and at the tied and roll ends. Each branch or strand is then lifted to the adjacent row of dies I9 and is placed into the aligned channels I3 of the respective cups II below the cords I5, so that the respective cords I5 and I6 are in intersecting and contacting position at their points of intersection. It is to be noted that one of the strands of one of the longitudinal cords I6 is left over in each operation and it is used in the next operation. Lastly, an inverted upper cup II is hammered or pressed down onto the joint on each lower cup II so as to fasten each intersection together as shown in Fig. 6. As a section of the net is thus completed it is removed from the dies I9 in the direction indicated by the arrows along the cords I5.

In order to assure a predetermined spacing of all the joints of the net, the completed portion of the net is drawn over the downwardly inclined frame members 34. The completed net mittent.

is kept in extended position by a guide bar 36 secured to the inclined frame members 34 so as to lie parallel with the longitudinal edge of the frame I1. The bar 36 is provided with slots 31 so that the transverse guides I5 are guided in spaced relation as the completed portion of the net is removed from the top of the frame I1. The guide bar 36 is spaced from the adjacent row of dies I 9 the same distance as the distance between the dies .I9. The.. slots 31 are smaller than the joint cups I I. so that the movement of the completed portion of the net, when removed from the top of the frame I1, is inter- As the last joints of the completed portion of the net abuts against the guide bar 31, the remaining portions of the cords I5 lie in the proper position on the dies I9, for the proper spacing of the next portion of the net to be joined. At this time the longitudinal cords I6 are pulled along the guide rows 21 from one end of the set of cords I5 to the other as heretofore set forth, and the joining operation is repeated as heretofore described.

By the use of my apparatus, the individual knotting and joining of intersecting cords for the net is obviated because in my apparatus any selected large number of intersecting cords may be quickly and easily set in place, and then readily joined in properly aligned dies so as to form a regularly and equally spaced net of any length or width.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for joining Aintersecting cords by means of complemental joiner cups to form a net or the like; a plurality of dies each being adapted to holda joiner cup therein; means to support said dies in groups in spaced positions, so aligned that a cord can be laid upon the cups in each group of dies; means to feed a plurality of `cords below the level of the rst cords and crosswise relatively to the rst cords so as to permit the placing of said second cords into the respective cups belowthe respective i'lrst cords at their points of intersection; and meansvwhereby an inverted upper cup can be pressedv into union with each of saidlower cups in the dies so as to hold said cords together at their points of intersection.

2. In an apparatus for joining intersecting cords by means of complemental joiner cups to form a net or the like; a plurality of dies each being adapted to hold a joiner cup therein; means to support said dies in groups in spaced positions, so aligned that a cord can be laid upon the cups in each group of dies; means to feed a plurality of cords below the level of the first cords and crosswise relatively to the first cords so as to permit the placing of said second cords into the respective cups below the respective first cords at their points of intersection; means whereby an inverted upper cup can be pressed into union with each of said lower cups in the dies so as to hold said cords together at their points of intersection; and guiding means for the rst set of cords so coacting with said joined cups as to intermittently stop and space said first set of cords in a predetermined relation to said group of dies.

3. In an apparatus for making nets or the like by applying fastening elements to the intersections of sets of cords; a frame; a plurality of holders on the frame for said fastening elements, one set of said cords being fed directly over said holders and elements; and means below the level of said members for feeding the other intersecting set of cords across from'one end to the other end of the first set of cords, so as to permit the lifting of the cords of said second set onto said fastening elements in the respective holders.

4. In anapparatus for making nets or the like by applying fastening elements to the intersections of sets of cords; a frame; a plurality of holders on the frame for said fastening elements, one set of said cords being fed directly over said holders and elements; means below the level of said members for feeding the other, intersecting set of cords across from one end to the other end of the rst set of cords, so as to permit the lifting of the cords of said second set onto said fastening elements in the respective holders; and spacing'means on said frame coacting with the fastened intersections on the iirst set of cords to determine the sp-aced position ofthe first set of cords on said holders relatively to the points of the first set of cords to which the fasteners were previously applied.

5. In an apparatus for making nets or the like by applying fastener elements to the intersec- V- tions of sets of cords; a frame; transverse rowsof holders for said fastening elements spaced on the frame; a plurality of longitudinal runways Y of sets of cords; a frame; transverse rows of holders for said fastener elements spaced on the frame; a plurality of longitudinal runways between the holders on the frame; a traveling member movable longitudinally on each runway, each traveling member carrying extended cords longitudinally to said frame so that said longitudinal cords can be placed onto the respective holders in intersecting relation to the transverse cords; and means to move said traveling members, each traveling member being adapted to have a longitudinal cord placed around it with an end of each longitudinal cord being held stationary so that each traveling member feeds two lines at a time, one line for each set of holders on each side of the runway.

7. In an apparatus for making nets or the like by applying fastener elements to the intersections of sets of cords; a frame; transverse rows of hold'- ers for said fastening elements spaced on the frame; a plurality of longitudinal runways between the holders on the frame; a traveling member movable longitudinally on each runway, each traveling member carrying extended cords longitudinally to said frame so that said longitudinal cords can be placed onto the respective holders in intersecting relation to the transverse cords; means to move said traveling members; and a guide related to the frame, extending longitudinally of the frame, to guide said transverse cords when moved across and ofi the holders, said guide being adapted to engage fastened points of intersection on said transverse cords so as to determine the spacing of the last completed fastened points of intersection from said holders.

GEORGE W. HANSON. 

